Improvement in combined writing-desk and meal-chest



' 2 Sheets-Sheetl. I W. H. STEPHENSON. a COMBINED WRITING-DESK AND MEAL-CHEST. I'[\IQ 18Z,Z38.l Patented Sept.12,1876.

z'sheets-sheetz. W. H. STEPHENSON.

, COMBINED WRITING-DESKAND MEAL-CHEST. No. 1.82138'. PatennecLSept. 12, i876.

Attorney/J N-PETERS, PHOYmUTHOGRAPHER. wAsMbNGTcN. D C.

. a cake-board used therein.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. STEPHENSON, OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA.

iMPRovEMEN-r IN coMB|NED WRITING-DESK AND MEAL-CHEST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,238, dated September 12, 1876; application led February 10, 1876.

` construction and arrangement of a cabinet for flour, meal, 85e., which can beV changed and used as a milk-safe and a writing-desk in combination, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art -to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure-1 is a perspective view of my improved cabinet. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a drawer. Fg. 5 is a perspective view of thev milk-safe door. Fig. 6 is a section of the lower part of the cabinet. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of the caster and ant-cup supporting the cabinet.V

A represents the frame of the cabinet, supported at each corner by a caster, B, around the shank of each of which is an ant-cup, G. This cup is concave on its bottom, which will prevent ants from coming up; but if they should succeed in reaching the rim of the cup they will be drowned in the water or other liquid contained in the cup. The lower part of the frame or case A is divided by a vertical transverse partition, E, into two comparti 4ments or bins, A1 and AZ-one for flour and the other for meal. The front edges of the sides of the case are made inclined above these bins, and the front closed by a lid or door, D, having an inclined shoulder at a., a suitable distance above'its lower edge, and extending the entire length thereof, to form a tight joint when closed. In opening this door its lower end moves in circular cleats b, at-

tached to the inside on the sides of the frame, and the lid can then be. moved inward until its lower (or inner) edge gets under and is supported by cleats d, also attached to the sides of the frame. On the top or inner side of the lid D are iianges f f, extending around the front and ends, as shown in Fig. 3. Along the inner end of the lid is a removable bar or cleat, e. cleat is removed, allowing surplus Hour to fall off the lid into the flour-bin again. The iiour thus falling oi' is caught on a sieve, Gr, placed in inclined position under the cleats b `upon cleats la, so that any pieces of dough that may fall ofi` with the iour will also be caught by said sieve, and be prevented from falling into the Hour-bin. The contents of this sieve can then easily be sifted.

`Within that part of the case closed by the lid D is a shelf, H, and a `box or drawer, I,

divided into several compartments to containspices, baking-tools, &c. The shelf H and drawer I are removable, so that they can be taken out, and other shelves, &c., put in for various purposes, espeeially if desired, to convert the cabinet into a milk-safe. In such case the lid D must be exchanged for the lid or door D', (shown in Fig. 5,) which door has the'ordinary wire-cloth for ventilation.

In one orboth sides of the case A are inserted ventilators i, so as to allow free passage of air, which is essential both when used as amilk-safe and when not so used.

Above the door D (or D) in the caseis a desk-compartment, J, with hinged door K, to be let down and form the desk. Within this compartment is a nest of pigeon-holes, L, which is also removable, so that a shelf, M, may be substituted therefor, if desired.

In the .top of the case is another shallow compartment, formed by a, movable flanged tray, N, having its front side hinged, as shown. This tray may be taken off and used for other purposes, if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention,-

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a our cabinet or case, the lid or door D, provided with the anges f and the re In kneading dough on the lid this movable cleat e, as and for the purposes here- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I in set forth. have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of 2. The combination of the case A, divided January, 1876. to formbins A1 A2, the rounded cleats b b, lid or door D, and inclined sieve G, as and for WILLIAM H. STEPHENSON. the purposes herein set forth. v

3. The Combination, with a flour and meal Witnesses: cabinet, of a desk-compartment, J, having JOHN K. RINEHART, hinged door K and removable pigeon-hole JOHN H. BARKER. nest L, substantially as shown and described. 

